U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB10527: Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act of 2026
Status: In committee, September 21, 2026
To protect the independence of the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To protect the independence of the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, September 21, 2026:
A BILL To protect the independence of the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act of 2026 . SECTION 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Museums, archives, and cultural institutions supported by the taxpayer serve the American people by preserving, researching, and interpreting the Nation's history and heritage. (2) The United States has a responsibility to ensure that these institutions present accurate, evidence-based accounts of American history, including achievements, conflicts, injustices, and the experiences of diverse communities. (3) Scholarly independence and professional standards in museums are essential to maintaining public trust. (4) Government officials have a legitimate role in oversight of taxpayer-funded institutions but should not direct historical conclusions, suppress scholarship, or require institutions to adopt particular political viewpoints. (5) Public confidence in museums, archives, and cultural institutions depends on transparency, accountability, and freedom from partisan interference. (6) America's history includes both extraordinary achievements and painful chapters. (7) Museums should not avoid difficult historical truths, nor should they serve as instruments of partisan political messaging. SECTION 3. Prohibition on political interference of the Smithsonian Institution (a) In general A Federal official may not carry out any of the following: (1) Require the Smithsonian Institution to adopt a particular interpretation of events based …
Sponsors
- Melanie Stansbury (D) · primary sponsor
- Jonathan Jackson (D, HD-001)
- Kweisi Mfume (D, HD-007)
- Robert Garcia (D, HD-CA-42)
- Jasmine Crockett (D, HD-030)
- Stephen Lynch (D, HD-008)
- Ayanna Pressley (D, HD-007)
- Menefee, Christian (D, HD-018)
Latest actions
- : Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- : Introduced in House
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Common questions
- What is HB10527?
- HB10527 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act of 2026.
- What does HB10527 do?
- In its own words: To protect the independence of the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB10527?
- In committee as of September 21, 2026. Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. (September 21, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB10527?
- Melanie Stansbury (D), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB10527?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10527
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.